Decisionon Rink Delayed

June 2, 2000|By ROBERT NOLIN Staff Writer

COCONUT CREEK — A divided City Commission is still going 'round and 'round over a proposed roller hockey rink at Sabal Pines Park. But a final decision on the project is tentatively set to be made at a special meeting Tuesday.

The $468,000 rink, proposed for the city's largest park now under construction at Northwest 39th Avenue south of Winston Park Boulevard, will include restrooms, lighting and landscaping.

Commissioners wanted Brang Co., the firm now building the park, to construct the rink. But Commissioner Sam Goldsmith, traditionally a budget watchdog, felt the cost of the rink was too high. Commissioner Harold Sacks also rejected the plan, saying he wasn't sure the rink would draw enough hockey players to make it a viable project.

The three commissioners favoring the project could not simply outvote Goldsmith and Sacks. The commission wanted to hire Brang without putting the project out to bid, and state law says a city can only do that with a "supermajority," or 4-1 vote.

Commissioners can still solicit bids on the project to circumvent the state law, then simply outvote their two intransigent colleagues. But going out to bid, and hiring a new contractor, could hike the cost of the rink by as much as $200,000, and delay its construction as well.

While a decision is pending, administrators have been trying to sway either Goldsmith or Sacks to endorse the project so the city could go forward quicker and at a lower cost.

Paul Dale, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board, e-mailed statistics to commissioners showing that roller hockey is a rapidly growing sport, and a facility in Coconut Creek would not go unused.

Dale said he's heard that one of the reluctant commissioners is ready to change his vote, giving rink supporters the 4-1 majority needed to go ahead with the project with its current contractor.

"I can only hope," Dale said.

Robert Nolin can be reached at rnolin@sun-sentinel.com, or 954-572-2024.